The Initiative

The goal of the Vision 21 initiative is to permanently alter the treatment of crime victims in America.

To that end, five organizations collectively examined the current framework of the victim assistance field in the United States. Four of the organizations conducted thorough literature reviews and convened 2-day forums of 25–40 stakeholders including crime victims and representatives from federal, national, state, local, and tribal organizations and agencies that interact with, serve, or have an impact on victims of crime.

Stakeholder Forums

The Role of the Crime Victims Field in the U.S. Response to Crime and Delinquency (Participant List)

Each of the four organizations compiled the data collected from the literature reviews, forums, and through other means (e.g., interviews, surveys, online feedback). A fifth contributing project synthesized the information into a document that was reviewed and discussed at the final stakeholder forum, held in September 2011 in Charleston, South Carolina. The culmination of the Vision 21 initiative is a final report that integrates all the information gathered into a summary of findings and presents a cohesive and comprehensive set of recommendations that support strategic change in the victim assistance field.

Issue Areas

1.

The role of the crime victims field in the overall response to crime and delinquency in the United States. This project focused on current crime victimization, underserved and unserved communities, enhancing partnerships, and improving integration of crime victims’ rights.

Project Organization:
National Crime Victim Law Institute

2.

Building capacity in the crime victims field to better serve victims of crime. This project focused on the ability of networks to meet current and future crime victim needs, availability of funding, organizational flexibility, diversity in staffing and leadership, and stronger collaborations to further crime victims’ rights and services.

Project Organization:
National Center for Victims of Crime

3.

Enduring challenges in the crime victims field that still are being addressed. This project focused on barriers and issues that continue to challenge the victim services field, including: